George Calombaris

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Fee Range

::$10000-$15000

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Australia-VIC

Biography

George Calombaris is a young, exuberant chef who has been awarded more accolades for his work than most receive in a lifetime.

A judge on the hit television show, MasterChef, George is fiery, passionate and outspoken. His molecular gastronomy has seen him become a much talked about chef in the international cooking circuit. In 2004, the Global Food and Wine Magazine voted George one of the Top 40 Chefs of Influence in the World.

George's Greek heritage is at the centre of his passion for food, cooking and innovation. He constantly pushes the boundaries and never sits still.

An internationally successful restaurateur, George owns three restaurants in Melbourne and one in Mykonos, Greece. His flagship Melbourne restaurant, The Press Club, was awarded two Chefs' Hats and 'Best New Restaurant 2008' with George named 'Chef of the Year 2008' at The Age Good Food Guide Awards.

George was just 29. During the same year he opened The Belvedere Club in Mykonos which sits opposite the world famous Nobu Restaurant. He also launched his first book The Press Club, opened the Maha Bar & Grill and a Modern Greek Taverna.

George's career has been full of exciting moments. He completed his apprenticeship at the Hotel Sofitel, where he won the Bonland National Apprentice of the Year Award in 1999. Soon after, George led a team of 11 qualified and apprentice chefs at Richmond's Fenix Restaurant. Among the many accolades achieved during George's time at Fenix, the restaurant was honoured with the 2001 Restaurant of the Year Culinary Competition for Victoria, as part of Melbourne's Food and Wine Festival.

In 2003, George was selected to represent Australia at the Bocuse d'Or International Culinary Grand Prix in Lyon, France. He achieved the best ever result for an Australian representative to that time.

In the same year George was the mastermind behind the successful Melbourne restaurant Reserve, where he exhibited his own personal style and became a much talked about chef in the international cooking circuit.

In 2004, the Global Food and Wine Magazine voted George as one of the Top 40 Chefs of Influence In the World. During the same year, the Age Good Food Guide awarded George Young Chef of the Year 2004 and Reserve won Best New Restaurant as well as receiving two prestigious Chefs Hats. Following these awards, George was swiftly approached to Guest Chef on many television programmes and has made regular appearances on Australia's popular daytime TV show Ready Steady Cook.

George Calombaris is available for:
- Cooking demonstrations
- Shopping center appearances
- Presentations on his experiences as an award-winning chef within the hospitality industry